La reactogenicidad y los aspectos inmune específicos de la vacuna pentavalente combinada: DTPw-HepB-Hib en el lactante menor de un año en el Hospital Distrital de Lambaré, Paraguay en 2007-2008

La vacunación rutinaria de difteria, pertussis y tétanos a células enteras (DPTw) está presente desde 1940 y con elevadas coberturas en muchos países del mundo. La Organización Mundial de la Salud ha aprobado el uso universal de la vacuna anti-hepatitis B (HB) y combinaciones con DPT, en los últimos años ha sido incorporada la vacuna anti-Haemophilus influenzae tipo b (Hib) en programas de vacunación del niño. Es aplicada en Paraguay desde el 2002 a través del Programa Ampliado de Inmunizaciones del Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social. Determinamos la reactoinmunogenicidad secundaria a la vacunación primaria pentavalente combinada en infantes concurrentes al Hospital Distrital de Lambaré–Paraguay en los años 2007-2008. Estudio longitudinal, observacional prospectivo de los efectos secundarios y los aspectos inmune- específicosde la vacuna Berna DTPw-HepB-Hib (QUINVAXEMTM) en lactantes menores de un año, a los 2 meses de edad, datos basales y post vacunales (1 mes luego de 3ª dosis). Efectos locales: 30(75%); rubor 17 (42.5%); tumefacción (menos 20 mm); 13 (32.5%); calorlocal 11 (27.5%). Efectos generales: fiebre: 37 (92.5%) llanto fuerte y persistente:32(80%); irritabilidad: 23 (57.5%); hiporreactividad 16 (40%), anorexia 8 (20%); Inmunogenicidad: antes de la 1ª dosis; antitetánica IgG (+) 38/40 (95%), anti-difteria (+) IgG 29/40 (72.5%); anti-HBsAg 0/40 (0%) negativos. Respuesta post-vacuna penta comb. (7m. edad): antitetánica IgG 14/14 (100%) (+); anti-difteria IgG 12/14 (83%) (+); anti-HBsAg 14/14 (100%) positivos. Se evidencia la reactogenicidad de grado variable y decreciente. Niveles de anticuerpos de los componentes DT, satisfactorios y la Hep B excelentes

Clinical Presentation and Outcomes of Kawasaki Disease in Children from Latin America: A Multicenter Observational Study from the REKAMLATINA Network

Objetivos: Describir la presentación clínica, el manejo y los resultados de la enfermedad de Kawasaki (EK) en Latinoamérica y evaluar los indicadores pronósticos tempranos de aneurisma de la arteria coronaria (AAC). Diseño del estudio: Se realizó un estudio observacional basado en el registro de la EK en 64 centros pediátricos participantes de 19 países latinoamericanos de forma retrospectiva entre el 1 de enero de 2009 y el 31 de diciembre de 2013, y de forma prospectiva desde el 1 de junio de 2014 hasta el 31 de mayo de 2017. Se recopilaron datos demográficos, clínicos y de laboratorio iniciales. Se utilizó una regresión logística que incorporaba factores clínicos y la puntuación z máxima de la arteria coronaria en la presentación inicial (entre 10 días antes y 5 días después de la inmunoglobulina intravenosa [IGIV]) para desarrollar un modelo pronóstico de AAC durante el seguimiento (>5 días después de la IGIV). Resultados: De 1853 pacientes con EK, el ingreso tardío (>10 días tras el inicio de la fiebre) se produjo en el 16%, el 25% tuvo EK incompleta y el 11% fue resistente a la IGIV. Entre los 671 sujetos con puntuación z de la arteria coronaria notificada durante el seguimiento (mediana: 79 días; IQR: 36, 186), el 21% presentaba AAC, incluido un 4% con aneurismas gigantes. Un modelo pronóstico simple que utilizaba sólo una puntuación z de la arteria coronaria máxima ≥2,5 en la presentación inicial fue óptimo para predecir la AAC durante el seguimiento (área bajo la curva: 0,84; IC del 95%: 0,80, 0,88). Conclusiones: De nuestra población latinoamericana, la puntuación z de la arteria coronaria ≥2,5 en la presentación inicial fue el factor pronóstico más importante que precedió a la AAC durante el seguimiento. Estos resultados resaltan la importancia de la ecocardiografía temprana durante la presentación inicial de la EK. © 2023 Los autoresObjectives: To describe the clinical presentation, management, and outcomes of Kawasaki disease (KD) in Latin America and to evaluate early prognostic indicators of coronary artery aneurysm (CAA). Study design: An observational KD registry-based study was conducted in 64 participating pediatric centers across 19 Latin American countries retrospectively between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2013, and prospectively from June 1, 2014, to May 31, 2017. Demographic and initial clinical and laboratory data were collected. Logistic regression incorporating clinical factors and maximum coronary artery z-score at initial presentation (between 10 days before and 5 days after intravenous immunoglobulin [IVIG]) was used to develop a prognostic model for CAA during follow-up (>5 days after IVIG). Results: Of 1853 patients with KD, delayed admission (>10 days after fever onset) occurred in 16%, 25% had incomplete KD, and 11% were resistant to IVIG. Among 671 subjects with reported coronary artery z-score during follow-up (median: 79 days; IQR: 36, 186), 21% had CAA, including 4% with giant aneurysms. A simple prognostic model utilizing only a maximum coronary artery z-score ≥2.5 at initial presentation was optimal to predict CAA during follow-up (area under the curve: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.80, 0.88). Conclusion: From our Latin American population, coronary artery z-score ≥2.5 at initial presentation was the most important prognostic factor preceding CAA during follow-up. These results highlight the importance of early echocardiography during the initial presentation of KD. © 2023 The Author(s

4′-Chlorodiazepam modulates the development of primary hippocampal neurons in a sex-dependent manner

The translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) is located in the outer mitochondrial membrane and is involved in the cholesterol transport into the mitochondria and in the regulation of steroidogenesis and other mitochondrial functions. It is known that steroid hormones, such as estradiol, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone are neuroprotective and regulate neuritogenesis in the CNS by different mechanisms. However, the developmental effects of TSPO ligands in the CNS are not known. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the developmental effects of 4′-chlorodiazepam (4′-CD), a TSPO ligand, in primary cultures of male and female mouse hippocampal neurons. We observed that female neurons showed an advanced neuritogenesis compared to male neurons after 2 days in vitro. Moreover, it was shown that 4′-CD administration accelerated the maturation of male hippocampal neurons, without changing the development of female neurons. These findings, showing that 4′-CD modulates the development of hippocampal neurons in a sex-dependent manner, suggest that TSPO may be involved in the regulation of neuritogenesis.Bruno D. Arbo received a scholarship from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and a scolarship from Ciências sem Fronteiras. Maria Flávia M. Ribeiro received a CNPq 2 Researcher Productivity Grant. Grant support from Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Spain (BFU2014-51836-C2-1-R) is also acknowledged

4'-Chlorodiazepam is neuroprotective against amyloid-beta through the modulation of survivin and bax protein expression in vitro

The translocator protein of 18 kDa (TSPO) is located in the outer mitochondrial membrane and is involved in the cholesterol transport into the mitochondria and in the regulation of steroidogenesis, mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening and apoptosis. TSPO ligands have been investigated as therapeutic agents that promote neuroprotective effects in experimental models of brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this study was to identify the neuroprotective effects of 4′-chlorodiazepam (4′-CD), a ligand of TSPO, against amyloid-beta (Aβ) in SHSY-5Y neuroblastoma cells and its mechanisms of action. Aβ decreased the viability of SHSY-5Y neuroblastoma cells, while 4′-CD had a neuroprotective effect at the doses of 1 nM and 10 nM. The neuroprotective effects of 4′-CD against Aβ were associated with the inhibition of Aβ-induced upregulation of Bax and downregulation of survivin. In summary, our findings indicate that 4′-CD is neuroprotective against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity by a mechanism that may involve the regulation of Bax and survivin expression.Bruno D. Arbo received a scholarship from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and a scolarship from Ciências sem Fronteiras. Maria Flávia M. Ribeiro received a CNPq 2 Researcher Productivity Grant. Grant support from Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Spain (BFU2014-51836-C2-1-R) is also acknowledged

Dehydroepiandrosterone protects male and female hippocampal neurons and neuroblastoma cells from glucose deprivation

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) modulates neurogenesis, neuronal function, neuronal survival and metabolism, enhancing mitochondrial oxidative capacity. Glucose deprivation and hypometabolism have been implicated in the mechanisms that mediate neuronal damage in neurological disorders, and some studies have shown that these mechanisms are sexually dimorphic. It was also demonstrated that DHEA is able to attenuate the hypometabolism that is related to some neurodegenerative diseases, eliciting neuroprotective effects in different experimental models of neurodegeneration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of DHEA on the viability of male and female hippocampal neurons and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells exposed to glucose deprivation. It was observed that after 12 h of pre-treatment, DHEA was able to protect SH-SY5Y cells from glucose deprivation for 6 h (DHEA 10−12, 10−8 and 10−6 M) and 8 h (DHEA 10−8 M). In contrast, DHEA was not neuroprotective against glucose deprivation for 12 or 24 h. DHEA (10−8 M) also protected SH-SY5Y cells when added together or even 1 h after the beginning of glucose deprivation (6 h). Furthermore, DHEA (10−8 M) also protected primary neurons from both sexes against glucose deprivation. In summary, our findings indicate that DHEA is neuroprotective against glucose deprivation in human neuroblastoma cells and in male and female mouse hippocampal neurons. These results suggest that DHEA could be a promising candidate to be used in clinical studies aiming to reduce neuronal damage in people from both sexes.This work was supported by the Brazilian research agencies CAPES and CNPq. Grant support from Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Spain (BFU2014-51836-C2-1-R) is also acknowledged

Growing knowledge: an overview of Seed Plant diversity in Brazil

Abstract An updated inventory of Brazilian seed plants is presented and offers important insights into the country's biodiversity. This work started in 2010, with the publication of the Plants and Fungi Catalogue, and has been updated since by more than 430 specialists working online. Brazil is home to 32,086 native Angiosperms and 23 native Gymnosperms, showing an increase of 3% in its species richness in relation to 2010. The Amazon Rainforest is the richest Brazilian biome for Gymnosperms, while the Atlantic Rainforest is the richest one for Angiosperms. There was a considerable increment in the number of species and endemism rates for biomes, except for the Amazon that showed a decrease of 2.5% of recorded endemics. However, well over half of Brazillian seed plant species (57.4%) is endemic to this territory. The proportion of life-forms varies among different biomes: trees are more expressive in the Amazon and Atlantic Rainforest biomes while herbs predominate in the Pampa, and lianas are more expressive in the Amazon, Atlantic Rainforest, and Pantanal. This compilation serves not only to quantify Brazilian biodiversity, but also to highlight areas where there information is lacking and to provide a framework for the challenge faced in conserving Brazil's unique and diverse flora